Combined releasing and suspending device



Feb. 3, 1931.

H L. BANCROFT COMBINED RELEASING AND SUSPENDING DEVICE I 'iled May 6.1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

1931- H. L. BANCROFT COMBINED RELEASING AND SUSPENDING DEVICE Filed May6. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fwy. 1:

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Patented Feb. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HARRY L; BANoRoFT, on SALEM, OREGONCOMBINED RELEASING AND susrnnnme DEVICE Application filed May 6, 1929.Serial No. 360,982.

Y This invention relates to a combined releasing and suspending devicedesigned pri marily for use in connection with the bottomless outercasket of aburial unit of that type to be lowered into a grave andincluding an outer casket and an inner burial casket, but it is to beunderstood that a device in accordance with this invention may be employedfor any purposes for Whichit is found applicable, and the invention hasfor its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,a device of the class referred to to cause a positive separation of theouter casket from enclosing position with respect to the burial 1casketd'uring the lowering movement of the burial 'unit 'within a graveand before the burial casket reaches the bottom of the grave,

and further to provide for the suspending' of the outer casket withinthe grave after it has been separated from enclosing position withrespect to the inner or burial casket.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth,a device of the class referred to for normallysupporting an inner casket containing the corpse within an outerbottomless casket and with the device capable ofjbeing shifted torelease the outer casket from the inner casket when the unit is placedupon a means for lowering it into .a grave, and with the device furtherincluding means, after the unit has been lowered for aportion of thedepth of the grave to separate the outer casket from the inner casketand to suspend the outer casketwithin the grave while the inner casketmoves downwardly to the bottom of the grave.

I Further objects of the invention are to 7 provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth,

a device for the purpose referred to which is simple in its constructionand arrangement, strong, durable, compact, positive in its operation,thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently installed with respect tothe outer casket, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended. V

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughoutthe several views: V

Figure l is an inverted plan vievv of a burial unit consisting of anouter casket and an inner burial casket and further illustrating thetion.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and elevationillustrating the inner casket secured within the outer casket wherebythe latter will enclose the former.

Figure dis a section on line 4 -l Figure 3. V Figure 5 is a fragmentaryView in vertical section of the outer casket and further illustratingpartly in section the securing means for the inner casket shifted toreleased position and the suspending element for the outer casketconnected to said securing means.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 Figure 5.

A combined releasing and suspending device, in accordance with thisinvention, includes a series of securing elements including releasable,tiltable combined supporting and retaining members for the inner casket,and a series of combined separating and suspending elementscorresponding in numberto the number of securing elements. Preferablyfour of each will be employed and arranged in pairs. Each pair ofsecuring elements is carried by a side of the outer bottomle'sscasketand having the supporting and retaining men'ibers thereof extend withinthe lat The securing elements are employed, when active for maintainingthe outer bottomless casket normally in encompassing position withrespect to the inner or burial casket and to releasably secure thelatter within the outer casket.

Each side of the outer casket is cut away to provide clearances for thetilting members of the securing elements to and from securing andsupporting position with respect to the inner casket. As each releasableinner casket securing element is of like construction, but one will bedescribed as the description of one will apply to the other. As eachclearance is of like form but one will be described as the descriptionof one will apply to the other. As each combined separating andsuspending element is of like construction, but one will be describedand the description of one will apply to the other.

The burial unit includes an outer bottomless casket 1 which has a bead 2secured to the outer face of the bottom of each end and a bead 3 securedto the outer face of the bottom of each side. The ends of the outercasket 1 are indicated at 1 and the sides thereof at 5. The unit furtherincludes an inner or burial casket 6 which contains the corpse and thecasket 6 isof less length width and height than that of the casket 1. Alowering device of known type is designated 7 and includes loweringstraps 8, four in number and which unwind from drums or spools 9. As iswell known the straps 8 are detachably connected to the spools 9 so onecan be released from a spool and withdrawn after the casket 6 has beenlowered into the receptacle or case 10 which is arranged upon the bottomof the grave 11.

Each side 5 of the casket 1 adjacent each end of the side is formed withan opening 12 of substantial height which extends through the bottomedge of the side. The head 3 secured to the side 5 is formed with arecess 13 which provides a continuation of the opening 12 and the latterin connection with the recess 13 forms a clearance for the operation ofthe combined securing and supporting member of the securing element.Such member will be hereinafter referred to. The bottom edge of the head3 is grooved as at 1 1 which provides a continuation of the clearanceand permits of the operation of the latching member for the combinedsecuring and supporting 1nember of the securing element. The latching orreleasing member will be presently referred to and it will be stated atthis time that it is constructed in a manner to couple a combinedseparating and suspending element with the casket 1.

Each securing element includes an angleshaped wall plate formed of avertically disposed portion 15 and a horizontally disposed portion 16which is disposed at right angles to and projects outwardly from thelower end of the portion 15. The bend between the portions 15 and 16 isprovided with an opening or slot 17. The portion 15 of the plate issecured to the wall 5 by suitable holdfast devices. as indicated at 18and the portion 15 is so seated relative to the wall 5 whereby it willbe flush with the inner face of the latter.

The portion 16 is secured against bead 3 and wall 5 by a suitableholdfast device as indicated at 19. The portion 16 is positioned abovethe bottom edge of wall 5 and head 3. The portion 16 extends to avertical wall 20 of the recess 13. See Figure 5. The angle shaped plateformed of the portions 15, 16 forms respectively the inner wall andbottom of the clearance provided by the opening 12 and recess 13 and.such clearance is indicated generally at 21 in Figure 5.

Positioned against the lower face of the portion 16 of the angle-shapedplate and in proximity to the slot 17 is a spacer member 22 ofrectangular form and which has its outer side edge formed with aconcaved portion 23 which provides a clearance for the purpose to bepresently referred to. The portion 16 of the angle-shaped plate inproximity to the wall 20 of the recess 13 is formed with an opening 24for the passage of the shank 25 of a T-shaped, rotatable holder referredto generally at 26. The head of the holder 26 is indicated at 27 and isarranged within the clearance 21 and spaced above the portion 16 of theangle-shaped plate.

The holder 26 extends through and is fixedly secured to a shiftablereleasing mem ber 28 consisting of a flat bar of suitable width,thickness and length having a curved inner end 29 which operates in theclearance provided by the concaved portion 23 of the outer side of thespacer member The member 28 operates in the clearance provided by thegroove 1 1 when said member is shifted for the purpose of releasing acombined supporting and securing member to be presently referred to. Theouter end of the member 28 is offset as at 30 and provided with atransverse slot 31 for a purpose to be presently referred to.

The normal position of the member 28 is as shown in dotted lines inFigure 4E. Positioned against the spacer member 22 and opposing thelower face of the portion 16 of the angle-shaped plate is an L-shapedmem ber 02 which acts as a retaining means for the spacer member 22 andwhich also provides in connection with the portion 16 of theangle-shaped plate a groove for the reception of the curved end ofmember 28 when the latter is shifted to position the holder forretaining the combined securing and supporting member in a manner tosecure and support the casket 6 within the casket 1. See Figure 3.

porting and securing member for the casket 6 is of substantially 2 formand referred'to generally-at 33. Themember' 33 comprises "an outer part34, an intermediate part 35 and an inner part'36. The parts 34 and 36are of greater length than the part 35. The

part 34 is reduced in width, as at 37 where it joins the part 35. Thepart 34 has its portion of greater width bifurcated as at '38 to'permitof the extension therethrough of the holder 26. The part36 correspondsin width to thepart 35 and said part 36 extends in a planeparallel tothe plane ofthe part34 when the member'33 is in securing and supportingposition with respect to the casket 6. See Figure 3. The reduced part37of the member 36 extends through the slot 17. The normal position ofthe member 33 is as shown in Figure 3 and is retained in such positionby the head 27 of theholder 26 overlapping the upper face of the part 34of member 33. When the member 28 is shifted to the position. shown inFigure 6,

so that the head 27 of thehold'er 36 wine);-

tend le'n thwise with respect to'the part 34 the mem lier'33 willswingortilt to the position shown in Figure 5, or in other words willassumea vertical position and with the part 36 of member 33 offset withrespect to the part 34. The wider portion of part 34 will abut'theupper'fa'ce'of'th'e portion 16 of the angle-shaped'plat'e andpreventthe'member 33 passing from the wall 5, or in other words, theWider portion of part 34 will prevent the separation of me'mb'er33fromthe angle-shaped plate which constitutes the inner wall and bottomof the clearance'21.

To restore the member 33 to the position shown in Figures 3 and4 themember 33 is shifted manually so that the part 34 will have'the holder26 extend therethrough, and after member 33 has been moved to suchposition, member 28 is moved'to the position shown in Figure 4, wherebythe head 27 will overlap part 34of member'33 and retain it in theposition shown in Figures 3 and '4.

Each combined separating and suspending element consists of a flexiblemember of substantial length and which is looped around the spoolor drum9. The flexible member is in the form of a strap and indicated at 39.The looped portion of the mem- 'ber 39 is indicated at'40. The lower endof the member'39 i's' 'provided with a hook 4'1 and is adapted to extendthrough the slot 31 whereby member 39 will be connected with the outercasket 1. The 'member39 is connected to the member 28after the latterhas been shifted to the position'shown in Figures 5 and 6. a

It will be assumed that the caskets 1 and 6 are in the position shown inFigure 1, whereby casket 6 will be secured within and supported by themember 33. The unit is then positioned on the strap 8 at the top of the'grave, that is above the grave. After the unit hasbeen mounted upon thestrap, the several securing elements are moved to released position,whereby the member 33 will assume the vertical position'as shown inFigure 5, under such conditions the outer casket is separated from theinner casket.

Theunit however, will be supported upon the straps 8. After the securingelements have beenmoved from'released position, the combined separatingand suspending ele- 'ments are connected tothe'members 38 of thesecuring elements. The unit is then lowered into the grave, both casketsmoving downwardly, and when the casket 1 reaches the limit of theleng'thof the combined separating and suspending elements, it will beseparated from enclosing positionwith 'respect to-casket 6 and suspendedin the grave 11 in a manner as shown in Figure 2.

The'casket 6 however'moves downwardly until it reaches the bottom of thecase or receptacle 10. The straps 8 are then removed "and "after whichthe members 39 employed to elevate the casket 1. After the casket 1 hasbeenelevated to the'desiredextent, the

straps aredisconnected therefrom and the securing elements moved to theposition they would'assume when securing and supporting the innercasket. This willprevent the 'members 38 from being damaged. When thecasket 1 isa'gain employed for enclosing the casket 6 the securingelements are shifted to released position, the casket 1 mounted over thecasket 6 and the securing elements then moved to position the'members'28 in combined securing and supporting position for the casket6. The device is operated in the manner as hereinbefore. referred to forseparating the inner casket from the outer casket and for suspending thelatterwithin the gravedu'ring the lowering'movement of the casket 6} Itis thought the many advantages of a combined releasing and suspendingdevice, in accordance with this invention andfor the purpose set forthcan be readily understood, and although thepreferred embodiments adaptedto be carriedby the sides of the outer casket and including tiltable,re-- leasable, inwardly projecting means for normally supporting andsecuring the burial casket within the outer casket, said elementsfurther including pivoted latches for said means and a set of combinedouter casket separating and suspending elements for con ncction to saidlatches when the securing elements are in active position.

2. In a combined releasing and securing device for a burial unit of thattype including a burial casket and a removable, open bottom enclosingcasket for the burial casket, the combination of a set of releasablesecuring elements for normally supporting and securing the burial casketwithin the outer casket and adapted to be carried by the latter, and aset of combined outer casket separating and suspending elements forconnection to the securing elements when the latter are in releasedposition, each of said securing elements including a slotted releasingmember, and each of said combined separating and suspending elementsincluding a hook coacting with the slot of the releasing member fordetachably connecting a securing element to a combined separating andsuspending element.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a pivotally supported combinedsecuring and supporting member for a burial casket and including abifurcated portion, means adapted to be secured to an open bottomenclosing casket for the burial casket and providing a fulcrum for andfor connecting said member to the enclosing casket, a latching meanscoacting with said bifurcated portion for releasably holding said memberin position to support and secure the burial casket within 1 theenclosing casket, and a combined separating and suspending means forsaid burial casket and detachably connected to said latching means.

l In a device for the purpose set forth, a tiltable combined securingand supporting member for an inner casket, a fulcrum means for saidmember, said means supporting said member from an outer casket, ashiftable latch pivotally connected to said means and engageable withsaid member to releasably maintain it mounted in position to support andsecure the inner casket within the outer casket, and an outer casketcombined separating and suspending element for connection to said latchwhen said member is in active and inactive position.

5. In a device for the purpose set forth,-a tiltable combined securingand supportii'ig member for an inner casket, means providing a fulcrumfor and for supporting said member from an outer casket, a shiftablelatch pivotally connected to said means and engageable with said memberto releasably maintain it mounted in position to support and secure theinner casket within the outer casket, and an outer casket combinedseparating and suspending element for connection to said latch when saidmember is in active and inactive position, said latch and element havingcoacting means for detachably connecting them together.

6. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tiltable combined securingand supporting member for and for extension below the bottom of a burialcasket, means adapted to be secured to an open bottom enclosing casketfor the burial casket and providing a fulcrum for and connecting saidmember to the enclosing casket, a latching means coacting with one endof said member for releasably holding the latter in position to supportand secure the burial casket within the enclosing casket, and a combinedseparating and suspending means for said burial casket and detachablyconnected to said latching means, said member and means having coactingmeans to provide for said member moving to a perpendicular position whenreleased.

7. In a device for the purpose set forth, an angle-shaped, tiltable,com'binedsecuring and supporting member for an inner casket, said memberhaving one of its ends bifurcated, means for connecting said member toan outer casket, said means providing a fulcrum for said member, saidmember projecting from said means, a shiftable latch pivotally connectedto said means and coacting with the bifurcated end of said member formaintainthe projecting portion of said member in position to support andsecure an inner casket within the outer casket, and an outer casketcombined separating and suspending element for connection to said latch,said latch being shiftable to and from latching position with respect tothe bifurcated end of said member.

8. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with an outer,open bottom casket having a bead secured to the outer face of each sidewall thereof at the bottom of the latter, each side wall and bead cutaway at two spaced points to provide a pair of spaced clearances openingat the bottom of the bead, bottom of the side wall and inner face of theside wall, of means secured to said side walls and providing walls forclosing the clearances at the inner face and bottom of the side walls,releasable, tiltable members, each member having a part thereofpositioned within a clearance and its remaining part projecting into theouter casket, the parts of said members projecting into the outer casketproviding for normally supporting and securing an inner casket withinthe outer casket, said means providing fulcrums for said members,latching elements pivotally connected to the bottom of said means,operating in said clearances and projecting upwardly from said beads,each of said latching elements including head coacting with that part ofa member within a clearance for latching the member in extended positionwith respect to said means to abut the bottdin of the inner casket.

9. In a device for the purpose set forth, the

combination with an outer, open bottom casket having a bead secured tothe outer face of each side wall thereof at the bottom of the latter,each side wall and bead cut away at two spaced points to provide a pairof spaced clearances opening at the bottom of the bead, bottom of theside wall and inner face of the side wall, of means secured to said sidewalls and providing walls for closing the clearances at the inner faceand bottom of the side Walls, releasable, tiltable members, each memberhaving a part thereof positioned within a clearance and its remainingpart projecting into the outer casket, the parts of said membersprojecting into the outer casket providing for normally supporting andsecuring an inner casket within the outer casket, said means providingfulcrums for said members, latching elements pivotally connected to thebottom of said means, operating in said clearances and projectingupwardly from said beads, each of said latching elements including ahead coacting with that part of a member Within a clearance for latchingthe member in extended position with respect to said means to abut thebottom of the inner casket, and a plurality of outer casket combinedseparating and suspending elements for connec tion with the outer endsof said latching elements, said elements having coacting means fordetachably connecting them together.

In testimony whereof,I alfix my signature 7 hereto.

HARRY L. BANCROFT.

